Promod Puri's Blog: Hinduism:beyond rituals,customs and traditions, page 111
November 16, 2016
“Koi bole ram ram; koi khudae….
One of the spiritual gems of Guru Nanak Devji, which portrays the essence of all religions: “Koi bole ram ram; koi khudae….” Here is the English translation of shabad:
Some call the Lord ‘Ram, Ram’, and some ‘Khuda’.
Some serve Him as ‘Gusain’ (Jesus), others as ‘Allah’.
He is the Cause of causes, and Generous.
He showers His Grace and Mercy upon us.
Some pilgrims bathe at sacred shrines, others go on Hajj to Mecca.Some do devotional worship, whilst others bow their heads in prayer.
Some read the Vedas, and some the Koran.Some wear blue robes, and some wear white.
Some call themselves Muslim, and some call themselves Hindu.Some yearn for paradise, and others long for heaven.Says Nanak, one who realizes the Hukam of God’s Will, knows the secrets of his Lord Master”.
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November 13, 2016
Hindu Swastika Exhibits Tolerance, Fortune and Auspiciousness
By Promod Puri Despite being stigmatized as Nazi emblem of anti-Semitic, hate and violence, Swastika, the world’s most recognized sign, represents an auspicious and sacred symbol in Hinduism. Swast…
Source: Hindu Swastika Exhibits Tolerance, Fortune and Auspiciousness
November 12, 2016
Welcome
My name is Promod Puri. I am the main contributor and editor of this website promodpuri.com along with two other websites progressivehindudialogue.com and promodpuri.blogspot.com
I reside in Vancouver, Canada. My professional background is journalism. I did my graduation in journalism from the Panjab University in Chandigarh, India. Working for couple of newspapers in Delhi was my early stints in the media before moving to Canada in 1972. I started The Link newspaper in 1973 from Winnipeg, Manitoba, besides working as editor of Native Canadian newspaper, The New Nation. In 1978, I moved to Vancouver, BC, and continued with The Link as its publisher and editor. After over 30 years of active journalism career and association with The Link I took retirement in early 2000.
Retaining my writing instinct with more passion is part of my retirement life
Rationality, humanism and compassion with liberal, secular and progressive preferences are the basis of the readings covered by promodpuri.com
The world we are living in is politically divided between the Left and Right ideologies governing or misgoverning the nations as well as nurturing the fascists and dictatorial regimes. Our perceptions of issues and concerns are influenced and even corrupted by the lack of morality we often witness in the practicality of these ideologies.
This website seeks a non-partisan ground based on conscious purity of thoughts and actions, ethics and moral, justice and human rights toward fellow human beings and our environments. It seeks guidance from the spiritual wisdom, not from the rituals, offered by most world religions rather than from the exploiting Left and Right political systems.
We human beings, along with animals, plants, mountains, rivers, seas and everything visible and non-visible in this shared universe, are all inter-related and inter-dependent to each other. This is the connectivity we seek here on this website.
In this pursuit of universal connectivity, Hinduism has been the subject of my observation and study as it offers depth and vastness touching every aspect of human endeavors.
My book “Hinduism Beyond Rituals, Customs And Traditions” is the result of this quest. The fundamentals of Hinduism are liberal, secular and diverse. Hinduism is a democracy of conflicting, contradicting and controversial thoughts and philosophies.
This website along with progressivehindudialogue.com and promodpuri.blogspot.com, besides covering a range of subjects from politics to religion, social and human interest, is dedicated to “Hinduism Beyond Rituals, Customs And Traditions”.
I am sure the knowledge and intellect offered by this site make interesting and stimulating reading. After all thoughtful deliberation is entertaining too.
Enjoy the web.
Hindu Swastika Exhibits Tolerance, Fortune and Auspiciousness
By Promod Puri
Despite being stigmatized as Nazi emblem of anti-Semitic, hate and violence, Swastika, the world’s most recognized sign, represents an auspicious and sacred symbol in Hinduism.
Swastika is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘svastika’ which simply means ‘lucky’. The geometric pattern of Swastika is believed to have its origin over 10,000 years ago in the Indus Valley Civilization. It got worldwide eminence and adoption over the centuries.
Many civilizations from Asia to Europe and even in the American continent adopted Swastika as a simple design relating to martial, religious, business and cultural trends including the belief that it brings good luck, prosperity and all things auspicious.
Swastika has been abandoned now by most societies and nations. For the plain reason that it is aligned with notoriety. It is a fascist symbol of intolerance and violent intimidation. Racists organizations and militant outfits post Swastika signs to signal rampage and terror against minority communities of different cultural and religious backgrounds.
Even with that perception which goes against the secular, liberal and democratic traditions of Hinduism, Swastika still has the same reverence and acceptance in the Hindu faith as has been since antiquity.
Although Swastika does not carry much Hindu philosophical interpretations, it does bring spiritual inspiration. It is believed to represent creator Brahma. Its four arms exhibit “Purusartha” which is an important doctrine of Hinduism. Purusartha advocates four co-related facets of life. These are dharma, artha, kama and moksha.
Dharma seeks conscious conduct of life on moral values. Artha means economic liberty. Kama emphasizes pleasure and enjoyment in life. And moksha denotes seeking mukti or freedom from the worldly web to seek oneness with the Supreme-being. Hinduism Beyond Rituals, Customs And Traditions.
Besides its spiritual values Swastika in Hinduism is more popular as a ritualistic identity mark in the performance of religious rites symbolizing devotion and divinity. Its use in the Hindu religious or ceremonial events is at the discretion of performing priests. As such Swastika is a ritualistic symbol.
Using Swastika in whatever formation is not at all mandatory in Hindu rites. The choice is made through regional customs and traditions.
As far as Hindu symbolic representation is concerned Swastika does not conflict with Om. It is a ritualistic tool with option to use or not to use. Swastika does not produce sound. Whereas Om does, and it resonates as the primordial sound introduced in this universe and perhaps in the whole celestial world.
In the ritualistic traditions of Hinduism, Swastika can not be abandoned simply because it has gathered connotations of hatred and intolerance in the Western world. Hinduism sticks to its centuries-old tradition of reverence to Swastika as a symbol of auspiciousness and fortune.
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November 8, 2016
Welcome
My name is Promod Puri. I am the main contributor and editor of this website promodpuri.com along with two other websites progressivehindudialogue.com and promodpuri.blogspot.com
I reside in Vancouver, Canada. My professional background is journalism. I did my graduation in journalism from the Panjab University in Chandigarh, India. Working for couple of newspapers in Delhi was my early stints in the media before moving to Canada in 1972. I started The Link newspaper in 1973 from Winnipeg, Manitoba, besides working as editor of Native Canadian newspaper, The New Nation. In 1978, I moved to Vancouver, BC, and continued with The Link as its publisher and editor. After over 30 years of active journalism career and association with The Link I took retirement in early 2000.
Retaining my writing instinct with more passion is part of my retirement life
Rationality, humanism and compassion with liberal, secular and progressive preferences are the basis of the readings covered by promodpuri.com
The world we are living in is politically divided between the Left and Right ideologies governing or misgoverning the nations as well as nurturing the fascists and dictatorial regimes. Our perceptions of issues and concerns are influenced and even corrupted by the lack of morality we often witness in the practicality of these ideologies.
This website seeks a non-partisan ground based on conscious purity of thoughts and actions, ethics and moral, justice and human rights toward fellow human beings and our environments. It seeks guidance from the spiritual wisdom, not from the rituals, offered by most world religions rather than from the exploiting Left and Right political systems.
We human beings, along with animals, plants, mountains, rivers, seas and everything visible and non-visible in this shared universe, are all inter-related and inter-dependent to each other. This is the connectivity we seek here on this website.
In this pursuit of universal connectivity, Hinduism has been the subject of my observation and study as it offers depth and vastness touching every aspect of human endeavors.
My book “Hinduism Beyond Rituals, Customs And Traditions” is the result of this quest. The fundamentals of Hinduism are liberal, secular and diverse. Hinduism is a democracy of conflicting, contradicting and controversial thoughts and philosophies.
This website along with progressivehindudialogue.com and promodpuri.blogspot.com, besides covering a range of subjects from politics to religion, social and human interest, is dedicated to “Hinduism Beyond Rituals, Customs And Traditions”.
I am sure the knowledge and intellect offered by this site make interesting and stimulating reading. After all thoughtful deliberation is entertaining too.
Enjoy the web.
November 6, 2016
By Jai Birdi
Very objective, fair, critical, yet respectful observation. Hinduism- “it stimulates and encourages debate, protest, amendments and even deletions of those doctrines or beliefs which are senseless, derogatory, and far from truth” is probably the definition of Hinduism that I could find. The challenge in my view is to create the will, the movement, and desire “to be change”. A welcome addition for creating, supporting, and facilitating debate on a topic that is indeed a ‘multidisciplinary academy’. Congratulations to Mr. Promod Puri ji”.
Jai Birdi, President Chetna Society, Canada
By Dr. Sanjay Grover
“It is a very concise book and every statement is like an aphorism that needs to be contemplated upon to appreciate its depth and width”.
This review is from: Hinduism: Kindle Edition
Promod Puri has presented fresh and new perspectives to an ageless philosophy and religion.The book presents the topic of Hinduism as an easy read for the first timer as well as provides new points to ponder for someone who is well versed with the topic of Hinduism! Though terse and journalistic, this philosophizing on the philosophy of Hinduism is a must read.
Dr. Sanjay Grover, Solan, India
By Purva Grover
Hinduism is not a religion,it is a science in itself
Must read book for all
Great job done by the author
Dr Sandeep Dhavan
Gastroenterologist, Chandigarh, India
A JOURNEY OF SELF DISCOVER
By Purva Grover, Editor Indian Trumpet, Dubai
Often, we’re not introduced to religion, rarely are we given a choice to pick one. Born in a Hindu family, you follow Hinduism, which as the debate goes is more than a religion; a way of life.
When you start reading the book, Hinduism: Beyond Rituals, Customs and Traditions by author (Editor-Journalist) Promod Puri you get thick deep into this debate. Yet, no thoughts are forced upon you.
The book is a rationale read. There are facts, anecdotes, theories and examples; each one to his/her. It talks of rituals, and how they provide an architecture to a religion but they’re not cure-all miracles. “Such customs generate fanaticism,” the author writes.
For most of us, the history of Hinduism is what we grew up listening to, observed people following. Here, you learn of the ages, civilizations and periods that led to its origin.
Why do we chant the word Om, why does it bring peace to our senses? Is Hari Om just a greeting, mere two-word mantra? As kids, many of us were asked to scribble the words Om on the first page of our books, or taught to hum the Gayatri Mantra on special days – it energized us, why and how?
We worship an idol, visit a temple, especially if celebrating a festival. In modern age, we are told to perform the Surya Namaskar every morning, and told Hollywood celebrities do so too!
A Ramayana is still part of trousseau in many homes, a Mahabharata (if not read) is watched by families, together – for many of us, it was once a Sunday ritual. What do scriptures teach us?
And there are the controversial topics of caste and the honour of women that appear in this book too. You may be dancing, singing or meditating – is that part of Hinduism too?
If you fret over Karma, and believe your strength lies in the ‘self’ then you will find the last leg of the book most interesting. Find your answers in this read”.
Purva Grover, Founder & Editor- The Indian Trumpet, Dubai, UAE
By Brenda Maxwell
Even if you are not a Hindu this book has a lot of great information in it and I recommend highly.
“Hinduism…” by Promod Puri was an eye opening and inspiring book with a positive message, even if some of the text was complex and almost scholarly at times… it is what makes the author’s message all the more powerful, in my opinion. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand better what and how Hindus think and what they believe. I for one never really understood the many different aspects of Hinduism, so this was certainly educational. The author gives very specific arguments and ‘questions’ that help to understand the religion better, and answers with some well-documented research of his own. The whole thing was just so easy to comprehend (even when it was dense) and felt very easy to relate to… Even if you are not a Hindu this book has a lot of great information in it and I recommend highly. (5 stars)
-Brenda Maxwell– Goodreads; Shelfari; Barnes & Noble; Indie Book Reviewers
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